The MONAHANS NEWS

Weekly Newspaper for Ward County

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Jan. 23, 1997

Monahans, Winkler County legislators unite

The plan to find a way to resolve tax cut issue

Return to topBy Jerome P. CurryMONAHANS, Jan. 23, 1997 - State legislators representing the city of Monahans and Ward County have united to bring property tax relief to citizens of both government jurisdictions, the Monahans News has been told.

The legislators - three Republicans and one Democrat, two state senators and two state representatives - promise they'll resolve the jurisdiction imbroglio that so far thwarts voter-approved tax relief in Monahans and Winkler County.

State Rep. Bob Turner, D-Coleman, promises that, barring unforeseen calamity, the issue will be resolved before the 75th Legislature ends its session in Austin. Turner represents the 73rd House District, which includes Ward County and Monahans.

The state representative explains the reason why a half-cent sales tax approved in Monahans and Winkler County elections for property tax relief has hit a road block:"The problem is that in the 1950s the city of Monahans annexed some 5,000 acres in Winkler County. This overlapping jurisdiction, coupled with the dual (sales tax) elections caused the half-cent sales tax to exceed the legal cap."

The result was staff members in the State Comptroller's office said neither political jurisdiction could collect the half-cent sales tax the citizens approved and use it to cut property taxes.

State Rep. Gary Walker, R-Plains, and Democrat Turner will carry the Monahans-Winkler County property tax legislation in the House. Walker's 80th House District includes Winkler County.

State Sen. Teel Bivins, R-Amarillo, whose district includes Winkler County, and State Sen. Bob Duncan, R-Lubbock, whose 28th Senate District includes Ward County, are scheduled to coauthor the legislation in the Senate.

Walker and Bivins are scheduled to act as the point on the bill that eventually might resolve the problem and allow property taxes to be decreased in both jurisdictions. but there is one possible glitch, an observer said. It may be that the State Comptroller's office wants to use the Monahans-Winkler County case to resolve problems with the law, raising it from a local issue to a statewide issue and bringing with it, inevitable problems of compromise and conflict. A first draft of the legislation has been prepared by the legislative council and that draft is now being reviewed, reports a member of Bivin's staff.

'Unusual" water line breaks on Sunday

leave homes and major businesses dry

Return to topMONAHANS, Jan. 23, 1997 - Unusual back-to-back leaks in water mains left homes and major businesses dry for several hours, reports City Utilities Director Bob Sinclair.

The major impact was at 15th and Stockton streets where a 35-year-old deteriorating two inch main ruptured about 7 p.m Sunday and could not be repaired. To remedy the problem, Sinclair say, city workers bypassed the old main and hooked into a new one to restore water to two houses on 15th Street. But the transfer meant water was diverted for several hours from major businesses at the intersection.

"Several businesses were out of water while we worked," reports Sinclair. "these included Dairy Queen, Furr's, Anthony's and the seniors home (Monahans Senior Health Center).

"We had the water back on about 3 o'clock Monday morning," continues Sinclair.disruption continued on Monday as city crews worked to finish. Traffic on Stockton was detoured around the work site from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The battle with the water mains at 15th and Stockton began just a half-hour after city crews had stopped another water leak Sunday. that one was at 10th and Leon. there is 12-inch main broke about 7 a.m. Sunday and water was restored at 6:30 a.m. to homes in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Murray and Nelson streets. Sinclair says two such major leaks on the same day is "unique, highly unusual. It doesn't happen often."

Man dies after he's hit by car

Return to topMONAHANS, Jan. 23, 1997 - Investigation continues into the bizarre traffic death of a man who was hit by a Jeep Wrangler as he was walking just outside the Monahans city limits on Friday, Jan. 17, according to a statement from the Texas highway Patrol.

DPS Trooper Andre Crathers, who investigated the incident, says George E. Meredith, 83, died enroute via helicopter from Ward Memorial Hospital to methodist Hospital in Lubbock. Meredith's lower left leg was severed when he was hit about 7:30 a.m. the day he died. the incident occurred four-tenths of a mile south of the Monahans city limits on State Highway 18 near the Ward county Fairgrounds and Coliseum. It was the first traffic death of 1997 in Ward County.

Graveside services for Meredith were held on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in Las Vegas, Nev.

No citations have been filed, says the DPS Highway patrol report. Meredith was walking a few minutes after sunrise, says the incident report, when he was struck by the vehicle traveling North. The Highway Patrol identified the driver as Thomas Wallace Lester of Fort Stockton.

Meredith had been visiting at the home of a sister, Madge Glass. Meredith was born on Jan. 25, 1913, in Oskaloosa, Kan. A 13-year veteran of the United States Army, Meredith served in World War II with the 16th Infantry of the First Infantry Division. he fought in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Meredith won the Purple Heart and seven battle stars.After his discharge in 1945, Meredith worked for the Postal Service in Detroit, Mich., for 30 years before his retirement.Return to top